056 class FFL/corvette

»Ø¸´: Type 056 OPV/Corvette

With no helicopter hangar, apparently limited sensors and weapons this vessel would make a very poor ASW platform. With no serious AA capability and a small AShM load it is difficult to see what function it would serve beyond being a slightly better armed OPV.

Geographer said:

Are those 20mm cannons in front of the zodiac rubber boats? They are not present on the other renderings.

Click to expand...

They are present on the model on page one and the first concept pics also, it could be due to the angle that it is not seen in the second pic.

Some sources say it is not 20mm but 12.7mm. I think it will be similar to the browning M2 machine gun.

There is no reason for these ships to have hangar. They dont even have enough helicopter for the 054s, where are they going to get them for 056? Check out 037. That is what these ships suppose to replace. They are not going to be asked to do asw missions solo. Again, wait for the ship to come out first. Why are we relying on magazine photos?

ZTZ99 said:

This boat's lack of hangar facilities significantly limits its potential ASW capabilities as it will always be nothing more than a temporary stop for a helo that has to be based on another ship. I'll not be convinced this class is meant primarily for ASW unless we start seeing CY-series anti-sub missiles coming out of those slanted launchers instead of AShM's, portholes for TAS in the back, and large bow domes for sonar in the front.

Click to expand...

Type 056 is indeed highly unlikely to meant for service with the fleet. What has been seen so far is that, besides apparently for the Hong Kong Squadron, four 056 will be built to replace the same number of JIANGHU I (515-518) in the second-line 3rd Frigate Squadron at Ningde.

If 056 does really go into mass production, which I rather doubt, it might be to replace the still very numerous HAINAN class patrol vessels.

»Ø¸´: Re: Type 056 OPV/Corvette

franco-russe said:

Type 056 is indeed highly unlikely to meant for service with the fleet. What has been seen so far is that, besides apparently for the Hong Kong Squadron, four 056 will be built to replace the same number of JIANGHU I (515-518) in the second-line 3rd Frigate Squadron at Ningde.

If 056 does really go into mass production, which I rather doubt, it might be to replace the still very numerous HAINAN class patrol vessels.

Click to expand...

Agreed.

If this class is built in number then questions need to be asked about the coherency of China's maritime policy with so many organisations having seemingly overlapping roles.

A truly useful ASW asset this is not.

Certainly. All of these Chinese agencies (not counting the Navy), the socalled “five dragons”, each fighting for their slice of the (big) cake, present a picture of total anarchy. A useful comparison may be made with their island neighbour, who ever since rearmament started in 1955 have concentrated all of these various functions into the immense Japan Coast Guard, leaving the Navy (pardon, JMSDF) free to do proper naval things.

056 is not truely good for anything. It is merely a well-armed OPV.

If a fleet of 056 corvettes can be built inexpensively to perform patrol duties, the rest of PLAN can be freed up to do something else.

I recall when we first discussed the American LCS, I had mentioned about the flexibilities of using multi-mission modules that you can swap out as-needed. However, the LCS price tag is completely ridiculous, and I don't have much faith in the naval version of NETFIRES NLOS-LS after US Army's cancellation. Good concept, but completely over-priced.

In Europe, the Danish Navy has taken the concept with a more conservative approach. Check the Knud Rasmussen class patrol vessel with StanFlex module system, "plug and play". This is a great concept that the PLAN can look into. Rather than arguing over what capability should or should not be installed, you just plug in ASuW, ASW, CIWS, etc. modules as needed.

I also do not see any torpedo tubes on the deck, that is very strange for any ship let alone one dedicated to ASW.

franco-russe said:

Certainly. All of these Chinese agencies (not counting the Navy), the socalled “five dragons”, each fighting for their slice of the (big) cake, present a picture of total anarchy. A useful comparison may be made with their island neighbour, who ever since rearmament started in 1955 have concentrated all of these various functions into the immense Japan Coast Guard, leaving the Navy (pardon, JMSDF) free to do proper naval things.

056 is not truely good for anything. It is merely a well-armed OPV.

Click to expand...

the maritime agencies cutters are not designed to do tasks that OPVs are designed to do. Even as advanced as the cutters are, they are not going to be equipped with naval weaponry or be able to go any faster than 21 knots. When your main task is to deal with civilian ships, it is not going to be able to handle Taiwanese missile boats or Vietnamese missile boats.

Geographer said:

I also do not see any torpedo tubes on the deck, that is very strange for any ship let alone one dedicated to ASW.

Click to expand...

No need for visible torpedo tubes anymore, such torpedo launchers can be integrated into the hull. For example, in the Halifax class frigates, the 4 Mk.32 torpedo tubes are integrated into forward corners of the hangar structure, as shown: